On Balmain’s illustrious and stylish Darling Street sits a quaint farmyard-chic sandstone building, known to locals as the beloved Cottage Bar and Kitchen. The rustic restaurant is a homely and welcomed changed from the bustle of Darling Street, making you feel as if you’ve stepped straight into a vintage style farmhouse. With kitsch style like your grandma’s house and a warm, relaxed ambience,  it’s no wonder this Balmain beauty is so popular with the locals. Cottage Bar features alfresco dining, a beautiful and lush area where you can raise your cocktails to onlookers.

They recently released their new Spring menu, and luckily for the guests at the launch, the clouds stopped crying and the sun burst through, creating the perfect balmy Balmain night. Cocktails on arrival included ‘Remember Me In The Morning’ – a fresh passionfruit delight, ‘Summer Squeeze’ made with fresh watermelon and Tanqueray gin, and my personal favourite,  ‘Mum’s Apple Pie’ made with Ron Zacapa 23yr old dark rum, Batlow cloudy apple cider, lemon juice and apple pie syrup.

The new menu focuses on dishes you can share with family and friends as the days get longer and the nights warmer, with Head Chef Ellen Young cooking up a range of meat, vegetarian and seafood canapés. Standout dishes of the night included Arancini with lemon, mint, pea and haloumi, with the mint flavour really bursting out of the balls.


The Calamari with coriander, fresh chili, lime and garlic aioli was sublime – some of the best calamari that has passed these lips. The oven roasted chicken with rice pilaf, dried fruit, apricot yoghurt and pistachio crumbs was a real winner – the sweetness of the dried fruit and yoghurt a great flavour hit and complement to the chicken.
Seeing the dessert come out my eyes lit up like a kid in a candy store, and that’s because I literally was. Guests were served their ‘Fairground Plate,’ which included maple candied popcorn, house made orange marshmallows, peanut brittle, fairy floss, mini ice-cream cones and mini toffee apples; and the indulgent Key Lime Pie with rum cream.
Whether you’re a local or just want to try something new, Cottage Bar and Kitchen serves up some mean cocktails, fabulous food and a great homely vibe.